Agra–Udaipur Vande Bharat Train Operations to Cease; Passengers Advised to Note Dates

Agra, February 14, 2026: The semi-high-speed Vande Bharat Express running between Agra Cantt (Uttar Pradesh) and Udaipur City (Rajasthan) will be discontinued due to low passenger turnout and seating challenges. The train will stop operating from January 15, and its train number will be officially canceled from February 16. Reservations for this route have already been removed from the railway system.

The Vande Bharat Express, which took approximately 8 hours 45 minutes to travel between Agra and Udaipur, faced declining popularity as travelers found the journey long and expensive compared to other trains on the same route.

Reasons for Discontinuation

The main reason behind the decision is low passenger demand. Other trains on this route offer fares that are lower and have similar travel times, with only about a 30-minute difference compared to the Vande Bharat. Initially, the train saw heavy traffic, but ridership steadily declined over time, prompting the railway department to discontinue the service after just 17 months of operation.

Operational Details

The Agra–Udaipur Vande Bharat Express was running three days a week—Monday, Thursday, and Saturday. From Udaipur, train number 20981 departed at 5:45 AM and reached Agra Cantt by 2:30 PM with nine stops en route. The return journey from Agra Cantt departed at 3:00 PM and reached Udaipur City at 11:45 PM, making seven stops along the way.

The fares for this service were ₹1,278 for chair car and ₹2,552 for economy class. Following its discontinuation, the rake will be redeployed on the Udaipur–Asarwa–Ahmedabad route, where passenger demand is expected to be higher.

The Udaipur–Agra Vande Bharat Express was first launched in September 2024, but operational and ridership challenges have led to its early closure. Passengers who had planned journeys on this train are advised to check alternative train services or routes.